Quick connect hitch



p 29, 1964 R. E. DROTT 3,150,884

QUICK CONNECT HITCH Filed Jan. 9, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR RAYMOND E. 017077 BY 7241a ATTORNEYS Sept. 29, 1964 R. E. DROTT 3,150,834

QUICK CONNECT'HITCH Filed Jan. 9, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet z Z 70 a2 30 28m 29 H s2 FIG-3 19 INVENTOR RAYMOND E. DROTT ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,150,884 QUICK CONNECT HITCH Raymond E. Brett, 4236 N. 91st St, Milwaukee, Wis. Filed Jan. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 165,204 1 Claim. (Cl. 280-469) This invention relates generally to a quick connection for securing an implement to a prime mover, and specifically relates to a quick connection for mounting and dismounting a snow plow or the like to the front of a large vehicle.

The invention is comprised basically of two or more spaced parallel rods extending forwardly of the truck in the same horizontal plane, two or more spaced corresponding sockets extending from the plow in approximately the same plane as the rods, and means for guiding and securing the free ends of the rods into the sockets.

A principal objective of this invention is to provide a connection assembly which permits a single operator to quickly and efficiently attach a plow to the front of his vehicle.

A still further objective of this invention is to provide connection means wherein there is an assembly for maintaining the plow in its approximate working position while it is detached from the truck, and includes means for removing this support structure when the plow is operably attached to the vehicle.

A still further objective of this invention is to provide guide means wherein a vehicle operator may substantially connect the plow to his truck by merely driving toward the plow assembly.

Another important objective of this invention is to provide a unique split socket, cam operated assembly which works in connection with a pair of support legs to lock the plow assembly to the vehicle.

A further objective of the invention is to provide structure wherein a forward movement of the prime moving vehicle is utilized to lift the plow assembly from its supporting legs.

These and other important objectives and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation view showing a portion of each assembly prior to attachment;

FIGURE 2 is another side elevation showing a portion of each assembly after attachment;

FIGURE 3 is a plan View of the plow assembly with the supporting members in a non-support position;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing the sockets just prior to the locked position.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like parts, the plow assembly of this invention is designated by the numeral 10, and the prime moving vehicle to which it is attached is indicated as 12. The vehicle is of a conventional type and is equipped with a hydraulic crane assembly 14 at its forward end. A pair of spaced parallel rods 16 and 17 are rigidly attached to the frame of the vehicle and extend forwardly thereof between the two front wheels. The rods are terminated by ball joints 18 and 19 at their outer free ends.

The plow assembly is comprised generally of a moldboard 29 and the rearwardly extending supporting and connecting frame generally indicated by the numeral 22. The mold-board 2%) is normally provided with a series of reinforcing ridges 24 along its rear surface to which the framing assembly 22 may be attached by conventional means. In the embodiment shown, a bracing 3,150,884 Patented Sept. 29, 1964 ice member 26 traverses the rear of the mold-board and is securely bolted or welded to the reinforcing ridges. Extending rearwardly from the bracing member 26 are a pair of arms 28 and 30. The free ends of arms 28 and 30 (toward the vehicle) are connected by a beam 2 which is parallel to the bracing member 26.. The beam is mounted to the arms about pins 31 and 31'.

Welded, or otherwise fixedly secured to the ends of beam 29 are yoke-like brackets 33 and 35. Each bracket forms a cavity which houses a socket mechanism. Since each socket mechanism is the mirror image of the other, only that one associated with bracket 35 will be described. Cross-sections of this structure are seen in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Each socket member is comprised of an upper section 38 and a pivoted lower section 40. The sections 38 and 40 are respectively formed with concave surfaces 42 and 44- which together comprise a ball receiving socket 46. The lower section 40 is pivoted about pin 48, and section 42 is rigid with respect to its bracket.

Welded about brackets 33 and 35, or cast integral with, are a pair of funnel-shaped guide cones 50 and 50'. The cones act as guides for balls 18 and 19 in a manner hereinafter described.

An operating shaft 52 extends between brackets 33 and 35 and is rotatably supported therein, immediately below the pivoted sections of the sockets, by way of journals 54 and 56. Intermediate the length of shaft 52 are a pair of supporting legs 58 and 6t). Each leg, at its outer end, is equipped with ground engaging shoes 62 and 64. Also, extending from shaft 52 are lugs 66 and 68. A tie rod is pivotally secured within the the lugs and is further secured, at its other end, to a conventional sprocket type throw-out lever 72. By operating the throw-out lever 72, the shaft 52 can be rotated.

A double cam surface 74 is formed along shaft 52 immediately below and in contact with each of the lower pivoted sections 41) of the sockets. As the shaft rotates, the cam surface causes the lower section 40 to take either its ball engaging (closed) position, as seen. in FIG. 4, or its open position, as seen in FIG. 5. Therefore, the positions of the cam surface and the supporting legs are determined by the position of the throw-out lever. It should be noted that when cam '74 is in the position shown in FIG. 5, the legs 58 and 60 are down permitting frame 22 to support the mold-board 20 in a generally upright position.

The length of legs 58 and 60 are such that when supporting the plow assembly, the guide cones 50 and 59' are supported at a height causing balls 18 and 19 to strike the inner upper surface 76 when the vehicle 12 is moved toward the plow assembly. As the balls 13 and 19 travel toward their respective sockets, the framing assembly 22 is lifted from the ground by the camming action of the ball joints against the funnels. This takes the weight off legs 58 and 6t) and transfers it to the truck frame. This facilitates the rotating of shaft 52 to swing legs 58 and 60 to their non-supporting position, while locking lower sections 4%) about their respective ball joints. After the two assemblies have been connected, the chain 81 of crane assembly 14 may be attached to a hook 82, on the plow. This permits the operator to raise and lower the plow from his drivers cabin. Conventional framing structure and hydraulic controls for varying the angle of the moldboard with respect to the direction of travel, are utilized with the disclosed embodiment but have not been described because they form no part of the present invention.

During periods the plow assembly is not in use, it may be conveniently stored in the position shown by FIG. 1. It can be seen that legs 58 and 60 maintain the moldboard 20 in a generally upright position. When the plow assembly is to be used, the vehicle 12 is driven slowly toward funnels 5i) and 5d" untii the balls 18 and 19 engage the upper surface 76. A skillful driver can accomplish this maneuver without the aid of a second individual' Especially, this maneuver can be simplified if aiming marks are placed on the rear of the mold-board. After the balls are heard to click within the upper socket 42, the driver leaves his cabin and operates throw-out locking lever 72. The plow is then ready for use.

It should be noted that the stationary portion of the socket 38 comprises the majority of the socket assembly. This permits surface 42 to be substantially deeper and larger than surface 44. This enables surface 42 to snugly engage its associated hall prior to the locking function of the lower section 4%). In this manner, the weight of the plow will hold the ball within the section 38 until the vehicle driver operates the throw-out lever.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above de* scription, disclosedwhat I deem to be a practical and efiicient embodiment of my invention, it should be well understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, as there might be changes made in the arrangement, disposition, and form of the parts without departing from the principle of the present invention as comprehended within the scope of the accompanying claim.

I claim:

A quick connection hitch for attaching a plow to a prime mover comprising, a pair of rods extending for- Wardly of said prime mover and each terminating in a ball joint, a frame mounted on the rear of said plow,

3. a shaft rotatably carried by said frame, legs fixedly secured to said shaft and movable from a ground engaging position to a non-support position, a pair of sockets extending rearwardly from said frame and spaced to respectively receive said ball joints, each'of said sockets including an upper section rigid with said frame and a lower section pivotally secured with respect to said upper section, said lower section having a ball-engaging position and an open position, and cam means carried by said shaft in constant engagement with said lower section, said cam means having portions to pivot said lower section into its ball-engaging position in response to a pivotal movement in said shaft, and second cam means on said frame for converting a movement of said rods toward said sockets to a movement lifting said leg means from the ground whereby said leg means can be pivoted to said horizontal non-supporting position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,610,902 Tomlinson Dec. 14, 1926 2,027,127 Tastenhoye Jan. 7, 1936 2,642,294 Holm June 16, 1953 2,853,316 Moss Sept. 23, 1958 3,104,893 Torrey Sept. 24, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 753,989 France Aug. 21, 1933 

